DAYS SHOCKER: Xander Explodes Over More Lies — EJ Awakens at Last!

Belle’s going through paperwork on the couch when Philip shows up at the door and pushes his way in. He tells her that the case she made on his behalf at Titan was based on fabricated evidence. “You’re saying we both committed fraud?!”

Belle’s horrified and angry, but resignedly asks why he’d tell her now. “Oh, right, Xander found out.” Philip explains what Vivian did, then fills Belle in on how Xander reacted. But when Belle asks if it was just him and Vivian who knew, Philip admits it wasn’t. A few other people knew.

But he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to tell her, so he just apologizes for putting her in the middle of it. She’s ticked, but admits she doesn’t hate it. She’d be a hypocrite if she hated him, but overlooked EJ’s bad behavior.

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She opens up about her EJ problem and not understanding her feelings towards him. “It’s weird enough that I got involved with my sister’s husband, but why can’t I turn it off?” Philip reassures Belle that she can’t control how she feels and assures her that he’s there for her.

Philip then cautiously asks if there could be legal consequences for him committing fraud. Yuppers. Belle can’t help him as DA, but he should reach out to Justin.

Xander Realizes Alex and Stephanie Knew

Alex gets off the phone with his dad at Stephanie’s and tells her Justin has tickets to see Notebook the musical. She’s incredibly excited, so they head over to the house to grab tickets.

Sarah once again apologizes to a confused Xander, and once again doesn’t get the chance as Alex and Stephanie show up. “What do you two want??” Xander snaps, then tells them what happened with Philip. Everyone looks uncomfortable as he rails against Philip then stops himself. “But you already knew all that didn’t you?!”

Sarah tries to get them to calm down as Xander realizes the affair was a cover story. “You knew. You knew all along.” Stephanie says it wasn’t all along, but she found out a little while back and broke up with Philip — which prompts Xander to demand to know why she didn’t tell him.

She just says she knew how much pain it would cause and didn’t want to be responsible. “Oh, so you’re just a selfish coward.” Xander then turns to Alex, who tells him how he found out and says he didn’t want to ruin Xander’s relationship with Philip or the big Titan/DiMera takeover. Xander, though, doesn’t buy Alex’s reason.

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Stephanie decided that Alex was worthy of the truth, but then they both decided Xander wasn’t. He deserves respect. Alex agrees, but there’s one person to blame. One person is responsible. Sarah holds her breath. “It’s Philip.”

Xander agrees, but as they insist that they were just trying to do the right thing, Xander doubts that, wondering how he can trust Alex. But then Wei Shin calls and he has to rush out, leaving Sarah to apologize to them both, nearly in tears, saying she’ll take the blame if Alex is fired.

They tell her that this isn’t the time. Xander can’t handle another betrayal and she may not be safe.

Roman Tries Getting Information from Kayla

Roman drops by a stressed Kayla’s office, looking for an update on EJ. She’s a bit taken aback that he cares enough to drive all the way across town to check. He makes up some reason or other about being there for Johnny, but she can’t tell him anything other than an induced coma is done to give the brain time to heal.

Kayla says Susan’s in with EJ now, working her psychic connection, but when she mentions EJ likely saw his shooter anyway and “psychic powers” aren’t needed, Roman looks worried.

Susan Visits EJ

EJ’s dreaming of getting shot when Susan shows up to comfort him. She assures him that they’ll catch his shooter together. He must have seen them, so he’s got to send her a psychic connection. She lays her hands on him a bit, yells, stands up, then demands to know from someone, “Who are you??”

Kayla enters and Susan chides her for ruining the psychic connection as she was about to learn who shot EJ. They talk about EJ’s condition and Susan mentions EJ was restless. Maybe, Kayla suggests, it’s time to take him out of the coma.

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But they’ve got to do it slowly and watch out for any other seizures. There are pros and cons to it, though, so as next of kin, Susan has to make the decision. Yes! Do it, definitely do it, EJ’s mom says.

Kayla begins the process and Belle walks in. They fill her in on what’s happening and now… it’s just a waiting game.

Kate Deals With Rex and Philip

Kate’s reading through the latest EJ news when Rex joins her at her pub table. She can’t resist bringing up him thinking she was EJ’s shooter. Rex apologizes and insists he was just worried — plus, he also thought Roman might have a motive. “Fear not, I suspect both of my parents equally.”

Kate scoffs and says nearly everyone in town has a motive and a gun, so Rex needs to knock it off. Roman wanders over to ask what they’re talking about. Kate says it’s time for Rex to go before he misses his flight, cutting him off from telling Roman he suspected him of shooting EJ.

Philip shuffles in after Rex and Roman leave for the airport to tell Kate that Vivian told Xander everything. “Vivian did what?!” Yup, and Xander threw him out of the house. Things are beyond repair.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Philip and Kate lament going along with Vivian — and her betraying them. Just like always, Philip says he dragged Kate into his disaster. Kate assures him that she fully believes he should have a share of Victor’s empire. Philip talked to Belle and he’s going to have to fight to stay out of jail.

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Alone, Sarah tries catching her breath when Xander walks back in. He talked to Wei Shin, who’s worried that this could be turned into ammunition to nullify the take over. Xander’s got to remain joined at the hip to Philip and there’s nothing he can do about it.

Stephanie and Alex get back to her place, sorry for how the night went and how they’ve both been dragged into this “stupid lie” that’s taken over their lives. Alex tells Stephanie they shouldn’t talk about it anymore and kisses her.

Belle sits next to EJ to talk to him and Susan encourages EJ, saying his “paramour is here.” Belle’s shocked, but Susan tells her that she doesn’t need to be a psychic to know that. Fine, Belle admits she loves EJ, and Susan encourages her to take EJ’s hand. Belle reluctantly does so and, with more encouragement, tells EJ she loves him. His heart rate starts to rise and EJ opens his eyes.

On the next Days of Our Lives, EJ comes out of his coma and Tate and Sophia grow closer.

Check out what’s ahead this week in Salem in our photo gallery below as the new writing team’s material begins.